Wildfires are no longer rare, seasonal events. They are becoming a year-round reality, destroying thousands of homes annually. In the U.S. alone, wildfires burned over 2.5 million acres in 2023, leaving entire towns in ashes.
Yet, in the aftermath of every major fire, some homes remain untouched—while everything around them is reduced to rubble.
What makes these homes different?
It’s not luck. It’s fireproof design, smart materials, and intentional planning.
Wildfires are burning hotter and spreading faster than ever before. Several factors contribute to this:
Traditional homes are vulnerable because they are often constructed with flammable materials like wood siding, asphalt shingles, and exposed eaves that allow embers to ignite the structure. Once a home catches fire, it is nearly impossible to save.
The good news? Some homeowners are taking proactive steps to protect their properties, and platforms like Henge are making it easier to access insurance and property resilience tools for wildfire-prone areas.
The key to a fireproof home is building with materials and design choices that prevent ignition, resist high heat, and eliminate weak points where embers can enter.
For homeowners in wildfire-prone areas, the challenge is often figuring out which of these upgrades make sense financially and structurally.
That’s where Henge can help. By connecting property owners with ire mitigation options — whether it’s fire-resistant roofing, defensible space services, or home hardening grants — Henge makes it easier to take action before disaster strikes.
The Camp Fire destroyed nearly 19,000 structures, but a handful of homes remained intact. One survivor had built his house with concrete walls and a metal roof. While every wooden house around him burned, his fire-resistant materials stopped the flames from spreading.
Actor Ed Begley Jr. lost his first home in a wildfire, prompting him to rebuild with fireproof materials. In 2018, when the Woolsey Fire swept through Malibu, his home remained standing while his neighbors’ homes burned down.
After devastating wildfires, architects in Australia have developed homes built with concrete, bushfire-resistant siding, and underground bunkers. These homes are designed to withstand even the most extreme fires.
If building a fully fireproof home from scratch isn’t an option, there are still many upgrades homeowners can make to increase their home’s chances of surviving a wildfire.
With wildfires becoming a permanent part of life in many regions, the future of homebuilding must include fire-resistant materials and smart design choices as the standard, not the exception.
As wildfires become more frequent and intense, fireproof housing is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. Investing in resilient homes will not only save lives but also redefine how we build in fire-prone regions.
For homeowners who want to assess their wildfire risk and find fire-resistant upgrades, Henge provides tools to make climate adaptation easier.
Next in the Unbreakable Homes Series: How Floating Homes Are the Future of Flood Protection.